So there I was, foolishly thinking the work trimming trees was done, The Saturday turned into Sunday, slid into Monday as the work continues on the “Mango Tree Project” (that could be the name of a jazz band). We paid our crew of four original workers, and then we noticed six more teenagers had joined the work force. The offending tree was felled, the stump was dug out, but it was so big no one could move it. That now we required Bong, and his crew of 4 helpers plus a chainsaw (that failed more than it cut) to break up the stump into smaller pieces. Bringing the payroll up to 14 workers, it’s funny how they just showed up.
The original crew of (now) ten had moved on to trim the other five Mango trees that bordered our land, while Bong and the chainsaw boys toiled on the huge stump. This trimming was Typhoon protection for my house during the next big blow.
Now the neighbors are there in full force, jungle Bolo’s in hand extracting firewood from the discarded tree limbs. There is a train of ladies moving their treasure back to their homesteads while husbands and sons trim and stack. The mood is friendly, and the conversations fluid. It is what we would call “A Happening” back in my Woodstock Days.
While I was with the group Sunday, the teenagers told of an adventure they had on Friday night down in Dinalupihan town. It seems that one young man found the keys to his father’s car, and decided to load it up with seven friends and go touring. The trip was further enhanced by two long neck bottles of Brandy, “Emparador”, or better known as “Emparaflu.” Then, as the night progressed, and during an un-thought-out U-turn, they hit a Trike, the driver of the Trike flew for 30 feet, but landed in some bushes and was just shook up, and the scoff laws were subjected to minor cuts and bruises. Dad’s car was impounded, and our wayward travelers were returned to their parents loving arms. I was shaking my head in a disdainful manner, as I walked away thinking to myself; “It’s a story any teenager could tell, as I’d done it too, when I was at their age.” But I didn’t want them to know that!
Monday afternoon, all the trimming is completed, everyone is paid, the empty lot is cleaned and restored to a better condition than when we started, as all the trash had been removed also.
Then on Tuesday I received a call from one of our LiP readers, Mr. Frank Fealey who was visiting with his wife and two sons from South Africa. The following day I drove to the Barrio where they were staying at the Arizona Resort overlooking Subic Bay. Frank and I had already met last year when he was flying through on business, and we had spent the day together then, but this year he was back to visit with his wife’s Family, and was on vacation. It was another good day that I enjoyed with Frank and yes cocktails were involved, and I’d hope to do it again.
So there in a nutshell, is a quick sample of the life of a retired Sailor, living in his patch of paradise, boarding the South China Sea. Now Bob has said many times that; “There is no paradise.” And for all I know, it could be true. But if the real thing comes along, I’ll be prepared, as I have plenty of practiced by living here. As Paul Keating wrote last week; “Life’s A Beach” and I’ll guarantee he didn’t spell “Beach” wrong.
Wow! My second quote from Paul “K” in as many weeks!
Paul
Whats up with that saw, it looks like a 24 inch bar on that thing used for felling redwoods?
So that was the major happening for the weekend in your neighborhood, great story.
How about a coat of BattleShip Grey on that Wall Of China to round off the whole USN theme.
Neal, Paul
Thats a good idea painting it Grey. Paul its funny how help appears out of the woodwork there. Whenever we needed a work party in the Marine Corps everyone would just disappear into thin air. I hope you had a truckload of SMB’s available for the crew to help them work better. Maybe Bong should wait until he’s done with the chainsaw before he drinks. I don’t think i would like to be near him after a few beers. Funny post. Take care brother
Papa Duck;
The beer flowed after knock of ship’s work, the way they use a chainsaw is dangerious enough with out adding beer to the mix. He worked on the stump for about 20 minutes and got nothing done, then I walked over and asked if I could try it? I pulled the starter cord and Bong asked what that noise was.
Ha Ha Ha,the biggest laugh i’ve had all day,thanks Paul.
Chas;
An old joke, but it fit right in.
Neal;
As much trouble as Bong had in keeping the saw running, he could have finished faster with an axe.
The reason I never painted the outside wall is I never look at it, like the fancy artwork on Vans in the 80’s that the driver only sees when he’s parked it.
Hi Paul,
Nice to hear everything is ship-shape on the tree front,you can now relax in your man cave without the danger of falling trees.
Regards,
Chas.
Chas;
We never saw that many trees at sea, so this tree dealy is all new to me. But I feel very safe in the Man-Cave now.
Hi Paul,
Your tree cutting story reminds me of my next door neighbour. Few years ago, Maurice went next door to talk to him about cutting the dead tree on his property, because it could fall on our house or on the verandah where we enjoy our morning coffee or watching the Kangaroos in the afternoon. Neighbour just shrug his shoulder and said; It never worries me, I lived here for few years now, it won’t fall. He is a real smart alec, of course he’s not worried, it’s not going to fall on his house or on his verandah!
We found out that this guy is really mean, the reason he doesn’t want to cut the tree because it could cost him around $300-400 to cut the tree. So, we waited, 2 years went by, by this time I had enough! after witnessing tree falling on our backyard due to a gusty wind.I waited for them to come on a weekend, I went over and talked to him and his wife and offered to pay for cutting the tree. So, the following day, I organised somebody to come over to cut the tree. It was all okay,dead tree on the ground, until the following weekend, he started cutting the tree with a chainsaw ( his friend was helping him and heard him say, “are you sure it’s okay to cut this tree”? his reply was: It’s my tree!) for him to use for his wood heater.
So, I went to the back verandah, and told them to stop cutting and drop the wood on the ground (the friend started carting the wood). He had the chutzpa to say the the tree was his. By this time, Maurice was behind me and said: “are you f******* right there? since you did not pay for cutting the tree, the tree belongs to me, my wood, for my heater, if you want to take ownership of it you can give me the $300.00 I paid. The previous owner of our house warned me about you, because you like pinching wood”!
Two years later, we found out he died from leaukemia. My response was,”couldn’t happen to a nicer a…hole”. The story doesn’t stop there. After he passed away, the wife decided to put the house for sale, so, Maurice & I made an arrangement for the Real Estate agent for viewing and then, we saw that their storm water pipe was draining to our property! no wonder we been getting few cracks on the ground floor of our house. We called the council to inspect the property for sale and check the storm water pipe. We told the Real Estate agent, to contact the owner to fix the problem because they will have difficulties selling the house. She is very lucky that we didn’t sue her, we are not that sort of people.The problems had been fixed, the house is not sold, she wants $235,000 and it’s worth $185,000 to
$195,00. We gave her an offer for $200,000 2 years ago. She’s not going to get her asking price, the house needs alot of repair.
Susan;
The neighbor from Down Under, Hell, I mean! You should also check to see if they were stealing your electricity.
I find it funny how some people are about the asking price of their land. The small lot on the other side of my house cost the guy P 125.000 to buy 3 years ago. It has nothing on it but a one room shanty with a leaky tin roof on 400 Sq. meters, and it is now for sale for a million Pesos. The empty lot where I trimmed the trees is 1500 Sq. meters and is for sale for also one million Pesos. Which one would a normal person buy? The seller (the small lot) is Pinoy, who worked in California for 40 years, and thinks his land is on Mission Bay in San Diego.
Hi Paul,
Ha ha ha…..I call it pure greed. I hope this guy ended up with squatters on his land! justice….. I’m not being nasty, just hopeful.
Susan;
You made my day when you used the term “squatters”, the reason is because I was reading the Philippine Inquirer yesterday about a fire that broke out in a QC slum. The author (Kristine Fellsse Mangunay) referred to the squatters as “Informal Settlers”, hows that for PC.
Paul,
I’m glad I made your day. Informal Settlers? never heard that term before, what is that? sugar coating? Ha ha ha…..
Wish you could bottle that attitude..I’d buy a truck load of it and tap in a 24/7 iv line for a good constant dose !
Brian;
It’s been bottled, and called San Miguel Pale Pilsen Beer, and I like the idea of an IV, or as the Romans called it a, “four”.
hi paul,
had your mango tree lumber been cut into 9-foot lengths, they would’ve been sufficient to make a few classic wood-strip surfboards if i was given the chance to swap them for something you and the missus would appreciate having ” )
cheers,
Biz Doc;
The tree is long gone, and being made in to charcoal, I wonder why surfing never really caught on here, it’s sure not for the lack of coast line.
hi paul,
maybe the spots out there in subic are just waiting to be discovered?
local internet access since the late 90s was what exposed the then-secret spots in zambales, la union, quezon, ilocos, siargao, bicol & elsewhere to the general populace, which then got tri-media coverage until today. surfing expats were the pioneering surf resort owners, who obtained the right to purchase beachfront properties after marrying locals in their respective areas. for those lucky few, life’s indeed a beach hehe ” )
cheers,
Biz Doc Surfer Dude; (lol)
Being from the Boston/Cape Cod area, the only thing I knew about surfing was the Beach Boys. But you seem to be well versed on it, and just taught me a couple of things I didn’t
know. It’ s always looked like it was fun, but I never found the time for it, but there were always plenty of surfboard on all the ship’s I sailed on, so it was popular with a lot of Merchant Seaman.
Surfer Dude; Oh I mean Biz Doc;
That was information I never knew, so thank you for that!
I grew up in Boston and the only thing we knew of surfing in the 1960’s was The Beach Boys, and we had no idea what the songs were about, but we liked the music.
As you probably figured out, my first post didn’t appear and I received a Word Press error, So I tried to remember what I said and tried again. The results are there for all to see, don’t feel obligated to have to read both.
hi paul,
as a kid in the 70s, i started thinking about surfing when the movie posters for Big Wednesday came up. except i didn’t get to see the movie that time due to widespread cinema bombing scares that season so when i finally had the chance to see it for a college paper i wanted to write, i just knew i had to have the chance to go surfing. but that was the late 80s when there was hardly any hint of the possibility of finding surf in the country. it took the rise of internet to expose what traveling haole surfers knew all along– the philippines had enough quality surf destinations to put the country on the world’s surf map. in fact siargao’s Cloud 9 reef break in general luna town is among the world’s best.
i’m sure there are spots in subic that are just waiting to be rediscovered– it turns out that US servicemen in subic & clark in the late 60s on leave from vietnam were able to locate scores of good spots all along the western & eastern luzon coastlines, including that particular beach where coppola shot the ‘charlie don’t surf’ sequence when he made Apocalypse Now in the 70s down in quezon (now cut into 2, with aurora) province.
i’ve been somewhat “drydocked” for over 2 years now– i’m in the process of finishing a surfboard prototype made of wood & woven plant fiber (grass, rattan, raffia, cotton), probably the world’s first hehe ” )
cheers,
Paul,
Is Biz Doc the missing surfer dude member of The Beach Boys? Hahaa…just kiddin biz.
hi jonathan,
turns out there was only ONE Beach Boy who actually went surfing ” )
cheers,
Jonathan;
Biz Doc, is not missing, he’s right here, writing for LiP. (lol) The only negative I can find in the surfing lifestyle is they put the word “Dude” into the U.S.A.’s national lexicon, and the valley girls added “Like” as in “Like, you know”. These are sins that can’t be forgiven!
Biz Doc;
Paul’s only surfing factoid; The old wooden boards were called logs! See, I saw the movie “Endless Summer”. One of the things I really enjoy about the comments here on LiP is that the subject can stray into 50 directions at once. Lucky I never adhered to the “ON Topic” school of thought. I can learn a lot about all sorts of things this way. So Biz Doc, again; “Thanks!” Good luck on that board and think about writing about your making of it. I know along with all the others, I’d love to read it!
Biz Doc(AKA Surfer Dude)
I didn’t know Apocalypse Now was filmed in the Philippines. Thanks for the info about that. Did you read that story about the 8-10 ft waves on a jungle river in Indonesia. It’s unbelievable so deep in a jungle. People were surfing on them. You can just google it. Take Care.
hi papa duck,
yup that tidal bore works about twice a year only, attracting surfers from all over the world– except there was talk of some sort of agriculture-related chemical drip in the area that makes that spot almost as risky as surfing the waters off fukushima ” )
cheers,
Hi Papa Duck, yes, Apocalypse Now was filmed in the Phils. When I took my then fiancee now wife of 34 years to the Phils, I took her to Pagsanghan (spelling?)Falls and along the banks of the river are the movie sets still intact, all the houses made to look like Vietnam. As a side note, she did not enjoy the trip ’cause she feel sorry for those skinny guys pushing us upriver and the boat is hitting bottom. lol.
Mars
Thanks so much for the info. May visit in the future. Have a nice day!
Great article Paul and I love a happy ending,everyone get sonething out of the day. Firewood for cooking a clean lot and best of all beer. I had a ditch cleaned out on my 18 acer farm and I had to burn the trees and sprouts we had dug out of it. I had an ok time but I think you had more fun then I did.
Eric;
I guess it depends on who you hire, as I had said last week, it a small effort to get a party started within my purok.
Senior;
Sounds like you had one heck of a volunteer working party. Now your place is shipshape and ready for inspection. Heck a nice coat of haze gray adds alot of navy tradition to your place. All you need is a quarterdeck to enter you man cave. And to think it only cost you a few pesos and a truck load of beer and food. Your no worst for were and pain free.
I’m suprised that someone didn’t set up a toro toro stand by your wall to make a few pesos. LOL
I like what you said about letting your awasa handle most of the business at hand and you just stay in the background. That my freind is the same route we’ll be taking It worked well when we lived there in the 80’s so why tinker with a good thing. Besides it lets you sit back scratch you head awhile get a few chuckles and then be amazed at what a good job it turned out to be.
Finished setting up my little man cave in the apartment got all my navy stuff up and old paintings of the Philippines I bought when we lived their. Kinda keeps me motivated for the long wait till aug 2013.
I’m still crying over the amount of yard gear and tools I gave my son You can’t even imagine the price tag. But the hardest thing was I had to give him my Buddy I miss that dog he was my sidekick thick and thin.
Hi Mike;
The kids use the unpainted wall to declare their undying love for Sugar booger, or Apple Pie, or what ever the girl of the week is named, so I’ll never paint it.
Had to give up your dog? That would break my heart if I had to give up any of my dogs. When I sold my house in Florida I had a yard sail to sell all my tools and yard stuff, the new owner was there and bought 80% of it.
The “I Love Me Wall” is set up in the apt, now you’ll only have to do that one more time when you get here. Praise that day!
Bruce
Glad to see you get all moved in. Next move will be your last. Will be sooner than you think. I will be one year after you hopefully. Sad to see you had to give your dog to your son, but at least its a good home w/plenty of room to run. Take care brother!
Randy;
I’ve been busting my but the last month organizing and the massive honey do list the have for you th accomplish to get the new homestaed shipshape. Pretty upset about my buddy but at least he’s with family and I can see him.
Started working out to get back in shape. (my Navy weight of 220) Heck I feel like I’ve been hit by a MAC TRUCK sore all over.
Where are you moving to in the PI? Subic for me One more move one more reset on the Man cave.
Be safe brother hope Scott dosen’t put the whammy to you to bad. Your state retirment right. I’m city.
Bruce
Will be moving to the Pilar Bataan area, not all that far from Paul. Yes we are state. I’m hoping Scott will leave most of it intact. He wanted to change the percentage we get per year from 3% to 2%, but what what we’ve been hearing that will stay the same. He also wants to make us pay a percentage into the pension plan, depending how much you make. I will probably move to the PI when i planned too, no matter what Scott does. I’m just fed up with Florida and everything thats going hear. Ready for the simple life. Take care and don’t work too hard my friend.
Randy;
I hear ya loud and clear when it comes to Fl and the BS.
Battan cool we’ll be in the Subic Bay area Just a stone throw away from you and Paul.
Senior;
So let me see if I got it right your unpainted wall is indeed painted with the devout devotion of love for the girl of the month from one young heart to another. So in the long run you get a freshly painted wall once a month and a chuckle to boot.
Had to give my dog to my son not a stranger he has a house and a hugh yard. Just what the doctor ordered for him since he would have been miserable in an apartment. Senior does the offer still stands that when we get there and you dogs have pups I can get one for the house ?
Mike;
There will be a puppy with your name on it! And an introduction to the Traveling Vet, the Vet makes house calls, he was the base vet years ago. A very nice guy, and he breeds Black and yellow Labs.
I’ll go check the wall to day to see which girl is the flavor of the month. I get very little paint on the wall do to the cost, mostly it’s in chalk. One kid dose the most beautiful English Script I’ve seen in a long time.
Senior;
I bet if you leave a large box of chalk by the wall someone will draw a fantastic mirror for you. Filipinos are wonderful artist.
You know senior when I get there I’ll be tapping your brain cell for important information.
Of course I’ll pay you for your intellect and time. As long as you have enough time to sleep it off and antacid to wart off the gas. Nothing is free in life except death.
Mike;
Pay to bury someone and tell me how free it is. (lol) If you tap my brain, you’ll hit a dry well my friend, but any way I can help you settle in I will. Yes, I work for beer.
To some it’s a six-pack, to me it’s a Support Group. Salvation in a can! ~ Dave Howell
Senior;
It don’t cost nothing to dig a hole andput a stone on it and paint a name. It’s society that makes you spend money to put someone in the ground. How did people bury people before they had money and fancy cemetaries? They dug a hole!!!
So remember that if you out live me Just dig a hole I won’t feel a thing just put a six pack by me for the journey. 🙂
Mike;
Okay, but it’s in your back yard, and I’ll put in Beer Na Beer, you’ll never know. (lol)
Hey Paul,
I visited in the Phils during one of the typhoons. Driving back from the remote areas to the airport, I saw an army of citizens armed with bolo’s cleaning up the trees that were felled across the road… It occurred to me that nobody in the Phils owned a chainsaw…Now you tell me that there is one. It only makes sense that nobody owns a tractor and chain to pull the stump out. Perhaps a team of caribou and some heavy duty ropes??
As for your unpainted wall, I don’t know why, but it reminded me of all of those “I was there ribbons” that I got in the service.
Hudson;
Believe it or not, I had a chain saw ten years ago, a neighbor borrowed it and sold it. I was learning about the word borrow then. Maybe I’ll hire one of the kids to paint my hero ribbons out there on my wall. That would cause confusion.
Hi Paul,
You’re lucky that your neighbour asked you to borrow it. My stepson, I call him magnet, everytime he comes around for a visit, he just takes anything he wants without asking! (including $35,000 he’s taken from Maurice’s bank account), He was a co-signatory. Maurice learned that lesson & took him off the account. Now, everytime he comes here, I walk him out the door, it’s safer that way nothing goes missing.
Sometimes I think perhaps I’m better off living in the Philippines, makes no difference I’m encountering problems, that I thought it could only happen whilst living in the Philippines, like the local tradesmen over charging( they see our big house made out of bluestone) they think we are rich, noisy neighbour (with his lawnmower and blower cranked up at 9 am on Saturday ) another neighbour pinching our wood, shops that out of stock of some particular items, stepson pinching money and other things. Ahh… the joy of living in peace and quiet.
Susan;
Just a quick question. The stepson still has his legs?
Paul,
Maurice sued him for fraud, they almost ended up in court. Stepson’s solicitor adviced him to return the money or he’s in for alot of trouble. He is very lucky to have a very forgiving father. What irratates me, stepson is a millionaire but he cries poverty!
Susan;
I’ve said this before; you can pick your friends, you can pick fruit, you can pick your nose, but you cannot pick your relatives. I have 3 grown son’s back in the U.S., two I’ve very proud of, the oldest, not so much.
Paul, when i read your previous article… though your wife didn’t ask your permission, the event still ended up in a good way… sort of perfect.. life goes back normal… ahh it made me miss living in the Philipines. But then when I read this article, i get a chuckle… I was like, I know it can’t be that perfect… I still miss living there though. The typhoon proofing the house pic was very interesting…
Lea;
Had my wife asked for permission I would have been shocked! I’m her husband not her father. In the beginning of our marriage I was at sea most of the time, and she had to make decisions about everything on her own. When I retired, I saw no good reason to change something that worked so well. I said it before, I’m a very mellow person, with no control issues.
The house is her domain, and I’m allowed to enjoy it, and have been pleased with any and all of her plans. Heck, I even get up and get my own beer.
You’re a smart fella, Paul. And lucky too… she’ll let you get your own beer? 🙂 Life is good! Oh, and your wife is lucky to have you as well. Now, don’t tell me, I don’t do you any favors. 🙂
Lea;
Thank you, for the favor, anyone who refers to me as smart that’s a favor indeed. (lol)
You are so right, life is so good!
Paul
tut tut “getting your own beer”what happens if there is an importent play in the baseball or football match surely a man has got the right to sing out “beer required” so you dont miss it. After all your not asking much for the boss to stop washing the dishes or cooking the dinner for a minute to attend your needs at such a tense stage of the match. I couldnt see Homer or Al Bundy allowing this to happen…your truly a saint paul, lol
David;
Let me clarify, my beer Ref. is within 20 feet of the TV, beside my bar. If I walk backwards towards it I won’t miss a second of the game. Anyway Baseball has beer breaks planned into the game.
I was speaking about when I’m resting under the Mango tree. I need the exercise!